Searching for a wheeler pruning saw

[Armstrong]

Hi everyone, I posted in "handheld equipment and tools" also but didn't have much luck...
I was advised to find a "wheeler saw" for pruning Apple trees and am not finding one. The OESCO website shows them but are no longer available. Does anybody know where I can find one? I'm also trying to figure out why they would be advantageous compared to a Silky hand saw. I'm hoping that someone who has used both can tell me. Thanks.

 

[BC WetCoast]

All I can see is that have a finer blade so give a smoother cut. They also push cut, which may be advantageous to some. I prune fruit trees with a silky, loppers and secateurs.

 

[Armstrong]

Thank you for responding. As far as the smooth cutting goes, I'm curious which silky you find works best. I'm thinking of buying the gomboy 270 with a medium blade. Do you have an opinion whether the Large. Medium, or fine blade would be best? I figured if the gomboy was too aggressive I would get a pocket boy 170 with fine teeth for the branches slightly too big for the secateurs.

 

[Armstrong]

Currently have 64 views and hoping that someone will give me some feedback on what saw they use for clean cuts on apple trees. How fine can the blade be before it clogs up?

 

[beastmaster]

Your going to want to have more then one saw no matter how you cut it(pun intended) cutting a two inch branch with a really fine blade is a lot more work then necessary and will ware out your blade faster. Trying to cut water sprouts and thin delicate cuts with a courser blade going to rip and tare. Cutting out bigger pieces or dead you'll want a aggressive saw or chain saw.
I'm a silky fan, but any of the top brands are good blade. I've seen combo sets that have to saws on one sheath, a med and fine, that might be a good idea. Go buy a folding corona saw, use it and go from there, that'll answer all your questions, then you'll know and understand.

 

[skytom]

Ashfield Tools down the road from OESCO is producing a more modern version of the Wheeler Pruning Saw. The advantage of it is the simple thin small-toothed blade. Although I use and enjoy the Silky saws, their "fine" blades comprise stacked layers of close together teeth. The Wheeler is able to utilize a thinner blade due to the reinforcement of the bow saw metal form and provides a more stable cut that is more efficient and leaves a narrower cut width (kerf). Ashfield Tools is also manufacturing some grafting tools, which should be in the next OESCO and Fedco catalogues.

http://ashfieldtools.nedjames.com/
https://www.etsy.com/shop/AshfieldTools

 

[Armstrong]

Thanks for the response but I couldn't find the saw through your links. Please send more information.

 

[skytom]

Should have stated that Ned is just filling the local demand at present, but email him at the address listed on his website to purchase. When I picked up the saw from him last week, he was producing for CiderDays and the Ashfield Fall Festival. The saw blade is the same pull or push you can order from OESCO or Fedco.

His hand tools use 304 stainless, -- the same stock as Lamson and Goodnow knives, but I believe the shank (?) on the bow saw is a high carbon metal.

Here she is:

 

[Armstrong]

So I hope this isn't the "million dollar question", how much is he charging for these beauties?
And then a bit more on my original question on these vs. silky saws. Can you elaborate on the advantages? Thinner kerf doesn't really have an end product advantage does it? Is it just less effort removing less material?

 

[skytom]

No idea on the price, but similar to what Fedco was retailing the OESCO version.

I like the Silky for quick cuts with its fold-out blade, but the Silky lacks the rigidity of a bow saw with its blade tensioned by two points. While making quick repeated cuts throughout a fruit tree, the Silky blade may deform if not perfectly straight due to the heat generated since it is held at only one point. The thinner kerf generally allows one to make a faster and cleaner cut. And when using for hours, balance comes into play, with this bow saw nimble; feeling like an extension of one's arm.

Honestly, pruning like orcharding has broken into two types: the quick and dirty and the gentle and aesthetic. Orchards have either transitioned over to dwarf trees and pole chainsaws, or, like many of the cider and perry growers, returning more analogue; with slower bow saws and grafting knives.

On an aside, I do positively recommend Ashfield Tools' cultivator, for its rigidity and sharpness allowed me to uncover tons (literally) of rock at two landscaping projects this past autumn in a way that no other (DeWit and Sneeboer included) had ever done so. I also recommend Ashfield Tools or Wilcox trowels; W.W. Manufacturing rakes, spades, and forks; Jameson pole saws with ARS blades; Felco pruners; Tina grafting knives; True Friends hedge shears, and Wilson Irrigation Poly Tie Tube (to tie down the branches) -- all available at OESCO.

Happy pruning!